Chipping Norton & District CC won Pool 1 of the U11 league losing only once during the competitive season. Darren De Bruyn their U11 coach provided the summary of the season:
What a season!
Considering this was their first year with a hard ball and several players were still u10, the enthusiasm was palpable. My first objective was to get them used to match conditions so getting them out in the middle and coaching them as we play was the strategy behind our success. Every player was going to learn how to bowl, bat, catch and throw.
Our first warm up game was against Cropredy who were well prepared and had several games under their belt. Though we were soundly beaten, the experience we gained from that fixture was invaluable. We realised very quickly what it means to bowl straight, bat aggressively and be alive in the field. All three contributions, if executed correctly, win games.
Coincidentally, our first league game was against Cropredy again. This time we were in the game and much more competitive. We lost by 18 runs in the end with plenty of batting power still in the changing room. Probably my lack of coaching experience was responsible for the loss.
Beyond this game the team went from strength to strength and won every home and away fixture in the league by beating Banbury (home and away), Cropredy (at home) and Horley (home and away). The away game at Banbury needs a particular mention, as it came down to the last ball and luckily Chippy came out on top. What an experience for both teams to be a part of. The tension and pressure was great, even the several parents on the boundary were starting to get involved. Cricket was definitely the winner.
A great season overall.
Players embraced a new type of cricket, some have even been asked to play up an age group which matched their skill set and challenged them further. The season has certainly boosted their confidence, encouraged a deeper interest in the game and I very much look forward to what next season brings.